Protests underway against Naval exercises in Hawaii

A petition and weekend of action is planned to protest New Zealand's involvement in a major naval exercise in Hawaii in August. The Rim of the Pacific exercise - or Rimpac, is the world's largest international training exercise which happens every two years and involves over 20 countries. A group of peace activists and academics opposing the event say Rimpac is not essential business, promotes war, and risks spreading Covid-19. Due to the pandemic, the US has peeled the event back from the usual six weeks to two, and has said all exercises will be held at sea, ruling out any on-shore socialising. New Zealand is planning to send 66 personnel on it's new dive vessel, HMNZS Manawanui. The Defence Minister Ron Mark told our reporter Rachel Thomas, New Zealand needs to go.